Based on the efforts of the Visible Human Project (1989); Visible Object is a materialistic investigation of the physical make-up of a common household lamp. The lamp, mounted parallel to the surface of the apparatus, moves forward or backward on the X axis. The speed and distance travelled are precisely controlled by a manual worm gear located at the front of the machine. As the lamp travels forward, laser levels provide an accurate line over the surface of the object. This guide allows for an accurate eighth-inch cross section to be removed from the object. Once sliced, a custom light box illuminates the edge of the fresh cut and a photograph is taken of its surface. This process is continued in eighth-inch intervals until the lamp exists solely in documentation. These images are then compiled into a stop-action animation, virtually passing through the lamp from the top of the shade through the base of the object.
altered lamp, wood, steel, laser levels, and video projection
(object dimensions) H 6’ x W 6’ x D 2’
Visible Object 2007
